Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-03-02
Is It True?
ANEW SERMON BY PASTOR c. 81. SPUR
GEoN.

| =
nor worship the golden image which hav
set up ?"-DANIEL 8 IA.
COURAGE REQUIRED OF THE CHRIsTIAl
SOLDIER A SERIOUS QUEsTIol
ASKED ON ALL HANDs-L Bl
READY FOR TT-N0 ONE LIVES UNNoTIc
ED-How TO BE PREPARED--HAvESo SCUM
REASONS ACT WITH SINCERITY = 4
LEAN-To REL1GIoN-II. How TO ACT II
IT is NOT TRUE-Do Nor MAKE Pro
FEssIoN-IF MADE QUIT 1.-THE DIS
HONOR OF UNFAITHFULNEss-III How
TO ACT IF 1T Is TRUE-BE BOLD-RECK
ON ON DELIvERANCE-ADAM CLARKE's
EMPLOYER.
Dear friends, who are net yet decided, i
you would become followers ofthe Lore
Jesus Christ it will be we'll for You to count
the cost. 1t was our Lords custom to bic
men consider what His service might ID
volve. His frequent declaration was: "He
that taketh not his cross, and follewetb
after Me, is not worthy of Me-" He knew
and would have us know that it is no child's
play to be soldier of the cross. If We
count upon ease in this warfare we shall be
grievously disappointed;
| WE MUST FIGHT
if we would reign. One reason OF this is
that the world, like Nebuchadnezzar, ex-
poets US all to follow its fashions and to
obey its rules. The god of this world is
the devil, and he claims implicit obedience.
Sin in some form or other is the image
which Satan sets up aud requires US to
serve. The tyranny of the world is fierce
and cruel, and those who will not worship
its image will fad that the burning fiery
furnace has not yet cooled. If you mean to
be Christian, and therefore intend to cast
off the bondage of this present evil world,
your resolve must be taken to bear all con
sequences rather than worship tie idol of
the hour. The worlds flute, harp, sackbut,
and psaltery must sound for you in vain
A nebler music must charm your ears and
make you bid defiance to the worlds threat.
enings.
Peradventure some of you may say, "We
will not bow before the gods of the world,
but we will worship God only: we will fol-
low Christ and none beside" This is a
brave resolve; you will never regret it if
yon stand to it even to the end.
| We are glad to hear you speak thus; but
IS 1t true? 'Is it true?' These words
shall take by themselves, and set them on
fire. No question can be more necessary OF
more searching than els is true?" 1t is
very well to profess, but "Is it true" 1t
is very fine to promise and vow, but sis it
trues" 1t is bold thing to talk of defying
Nebuchadnezzar and his fiery furnace, but
"Is it true?" Sceptics question your de-
claration with sarcastic sneer; sinners
question it with an open unbelief; and saints
question it with deep anxiety to have you
sincere. From many sides comes the query,
SIS it trae?" It must be asked, it will be
| ac1- fol lao ov1 4bor c,ro
ask it, SIS 1t true?"
| I. Follower of Christ
| BE READY FOR THE QUESTION.
stIs is true?'' Do not reckon to live un-
noticed, for fierce light beats about every
Christian. You will be sure to meet with
some one or other whom you respect or
fear, who will demand of you, SIS it true?"
Nebuchadnezzar was great parsonage to
these th1ee holy men; he was their despotic
| lord, their employer, their influential friend
In his bands rested their liberties and their
| lives. He was. moreover, their benefactor,
| for he had set them in high Office in his
empire. All hope of further promotion lay
with him, and if they would prosper and
rise in the world they must earn his smile.
Many young Christians are tried with this
| temptation. Many worldly advantages
"dy NC SoihCu ny IdNOT WIFI Ger
tain ungodly men who are like little Neb-
| uchadnezzars; and this is great peril
They are hidden to do wrong by one who
is their superior, their employer, their pa
tren. Now comes the test. Will they en-
dure the trial hour? They say that they
can endure it, but is it true? Let my hear
ers stand prepared fer such an ordeal. for
in all probability it will come. Some Ne
buchadnezzar will put it to you pretty plain
| ly: "Will you do as wish you, or will
obey God?" At such time l pray that
you may answer in the right manner with
out second thought, and so prove that
your love to God is true
Nebuchadnezzar spoke in peremptory
tones, as if he could not believe that any
mortal upon the earth could have the pre-
sumption to dispute his will. He cannot
conceive that one employed under his pat
ronage will
DARE TO RESIST HIS BIDDING;
he demands Indignantly, ''Is it truep" He
did not believe it'll He must have been
misinformed! Can there exist being in
all his wide dominiens who can have the
impudence to think for himself, or the au
dacity to insinuate that it can be wrong to
| DO what ACKNOWLEDGMENT commands? He
will not believe it. 1t is condescension on
his part even to ask, "Is it true?''
Often ungodly men profess that they do
not believe in the conversion of their fellow.
work men. Is it true, john, that you have
become religious? A pretty fellow! Why,
you used to sing jolly song, as well as
ether people, and now you whine out a
psalm like other canting hypocrites. Is it
trne9 Why, you could empty glass and
follow pretty games, like the rest of US:
and now you profess to be afraid of doing
wrong. 1t is true? Are you really such a
feel? You seem almost afraid to put enc
foot before another for fear you should be
hauled over the Goals. Are you really the
same fellow who could once drink and
sweal? els it true?" Beloved brethren
and sisters, want you to be ready for this
assault, and ready to answer without hesi-
tation, SIT is most certainly true.''
You will not be able to go through life
without being discovered; lighted candle
cannot be hid. There is feeling among
some good people that it will be wise to be
very reticent, and hide their light under a
bushel. They intend to
LIE Low ALL THE WAR TIME,
and come out when the palms are being dis.
tributed. They hope to travel to heaven
by the back lanes, and skulk into glory in
disguise. All, me, what degenerate set
Rest assured, my fellow Christians, that at
some period or other, in the most quiet
lives, there will come moment for open
decision Days will come when we must
speak out or prove traitors to our Lord and
to His truth. Goodness, like murder, will
out. You will not always be able to travel
to heaven incOg. In every house there
comes a time when each person of the
family has to take sides. and acknowledge
to whom he belongs. The most timid wife
or the most unassuming child, will be com